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Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
GOVERNMENT has set aside $38,1 million part of which will go towards an Environment Fund to assist in fighting cholera and typhoid outbreaks as well as contain water pollution and solid waste management.

The launch of the fund follows a cholera outbreak which claimed the lives of at least 49 people mainly in Harare in September.

Presenting the 2019 National Budget Statement last Thursday dubbed “Austerity for Prosperity,” the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube said the fund would assist local authorities and communities fight such outbreaks.

“In this regard I propose to allocate US$38,1 million to the Ministry of Environment Tourism and Hospitality Industry.

“Government will also revitalise the Environment Fund which can be used to contain water pollution and solid waste management. To avert outbreaks like cholera and typhoid in the future the Environment Fund will act as an early warning signal and assist local authorities and communities in disaster management,” said Prof Ncube.

He said the Government’s thrust with regard to environmental management is to deal with rampant deforestation, with an estimated loss of 100 000-320 000 hectares of forests per year, solid waste management confronting urban authorities throughout the country, destruction of wetlands and many other risks to the environment.

“The budget, therefore, continues to capacitate local authorities and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to manage pollution, waste and deforestation,” said Prof Ncube.

He said the Forestry Commission will now de-centralise issuance of tree cutting permits, while EMA will work closely with traditional leaders to enforce the proper management of forests and pasture lands countrywide.

Prof Ncube said proceeds from the tobacco levy will be shared equally between the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board and the Forestry Commission, with effect from 1 January 2019.

“These are to be re-invested in afforestation programmes in the tobacco growing areas,” he said.

Turning to Small Scale and Artisanal Miners activities, Prof Ncube said unsustainable mining methods that are used by small scale and artisanal miners also cause damage to public infrastructure and in some cases violates rights of other land holders such as farmers.

“Without criminalising the small scale and artisanal miners, the 2019 budget seeks to embrace interventions to reduce environmental, social and health impact that arise from artisanal and small scale mining operations. As such, the mining loan fund, was a key funding tool to primary and small scale producers, will embrace a component for better and sustainable mining methods,” said Prof Ncube.

He said, in addition, Government is engaging Fidelity Printers and Refiners to come up with a mechanism that compels recipients of other loans to rehabilitate the environment.

— @AuxiliaK.